
11 Friday
March 16
Samson —The Strong Weakling
Part 6—Agonizing Discovery
"It came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged
him, so that his soul was vexed unto death; that he told her all his heart.
. . . I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb: if I be
shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be
like any other man" (Judges 16:16, 17).
Had Samson recognized his separation from God and the enormity of
his sin, he could have sprung up, retained his strength, and fulfilled God's
purpose for him. But—in terms of this temptation—he passed the point of
no return. She "pressed him daily with her words." The visit was not a
brief or solitary occasion. (Compare Joseph in a similar situation [Gen.
39:10] and his reaction.)
Samson had accomplished his feats through God-given strength; now it
was to be taken from him (Judges 16:18, 19). Acting on the information
given, Delilah summoned his enemies, who robbed him of his power.
Gouging out his eyes, the enemy put Samson in brass fetters to grind in
the prison mill at Gaza with no way of escape this time (verse 21). Disobe-
dience may start as a thin cord, but soon it becomes brass manacles. Con-
sider carefully the binding, blinding, and grinding effects of sin. Disobey-
ing and trifling with sin once too often, Samson collected the wages of
sin. It may have been deferred payment, but it came.
Consider the discoveries Samson made during his blindness:
1.
The height of his folly.
Self-assertive and wise in his own eyes, he
had asked counsel of neither God nor man.
2.
The depths to which he fell.
The deliverer himself became captive.
Disobedience not only breaks the commandment, it breaks the man. He
lost his strength, his sight, his liberty, his dignity.
3.
The wideness of God's mercy.
Called by Paul "the God of hope"
(Rom. 15:13), He did not utterly forsake him.
"In suffering and humiliation, a sport for the Philistines, Samson
learned more of his own weakness than he had ever known before; and
his afflictions led him to
repentance."—Patriarchs and Prophets,
p. 566.
A return of strength followed a return to God. When Samson pulled
down the pillars, the house roof fell on thousands of victims, of which he
was one (Judges 16:29, 30). Like the thief on the cross (Luke 23:42), Sam-
son prayed to be remembered. Both had their prayers answered. Often
unfaithful in life, Samson was counted among the faithful in death.
PERSONAL APPLICATION:
It is easy to criticize Samson for his weak-
nesses and indulgences. But Satan always attacks us at our weakest
points. Identify those points Satan might consider to be your weakest,
then claim this promise: "None need be overcome. Man is not left alone
to conquer the power of evil by his own feeble efforts. Help is at hand and
will be given to every soul who really desires
it."—Patriarchs and
Prophets,
p. 568.
82